Vehicle with combination body, tailgate, and conveyor assembly

ABSTRACT

A vehicle can include a chassis, a combination body pivotally secured to the chassis, a conveyor assembly disposed within the body and adapted to convey materials stored within the body out therefrom, and a tailgate attached to the body. The body includes a front end, an open rear end, and first and second side walls extending therebetween. A rear body superstructure extends around the rear end of the body to reinforce and strengthen the rear end of the body. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor shaft assembly that allows for easy removal and installation of conveyor shafts and accompanying parts. A tailgate chute is removably mounted to the tailgate via a pair of mounting hooks and a mounting bar extending across an opening of the tailgate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of copending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/018,250, filed on Jan. 31, 2011, which in turnclaims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/299,623, filed on Jan. 29, 2010, both of which being entitled“Vehicle With Combination Body, Tailgate, And Conveyor Assembly,” andboth of which being incorporated in their entireties herein by thisreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One type of apparatus which provides for both the dumping and spreadingof material, such as sand, salt, gravel, asphalt and the like, onto asurface is commonly referred to as a combination body. Combinationbodies are so named because they provide, in combination, both dumpingand spreading functions. Examples of combination bodies are shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,400,974; 5,772,389; and 6,394,735.

In general, combination bodies are pivotally mounted to the chassis of avehicle, typically a truck chassis. Although the bodies can be mountedso as to pivot in one or more directions, the most common mountingarrangement provides a hinge mechanism on the rear end of the body and ahydraulic cylinder on the front of the body, wherein movement of thecylinder causes the body to pivot about the rear hinge mechanism. Thispivoting movement provides the bodies with the ability to dump materialfrom the rear of the bodies.

A tailgate can be provided that covers the rear of the body. Thetailgate can pivot into an open position when it is desired to utilizethe dumping functionality of the body.

A conventional combination body can further include a conveyor systemthat transports material residing within the body out of the body andinto one or more spreaders mounted on the exterior of the vehicle. Thetailgate can include at least one opening therethrough to provide ameans by which the material, upon transport by the endless conveyor, canbe expelled from the rear of the body. Upon being expelled from the bodythrough the tailgate opening, the material can be directed into a rearspreader at least in part by a cover or tail gate chute affixed to thetailgate.

While existing combination dump and spreader bodies provide manydesirable features and advantages, there remain certain problems withthese combination bodies. For example, a combination body configured tobe used with a tailgate typically has an open rear end, which reducesthe overall structural integrity of the body. Providing a conveyor thatruns lengthwise down the center of the body further reduces the strengthof the body across the body width at the rear end because the middleportion of the main reinforcement of the rear base of the body isremoved to make room for the conveyor system. This is especially aproblem in a truck body having an essentially flat floor. The reducedstrength of the body can lead to the body sagging at its rear end.

In addition, a vehicle with a conventional combination body is oftendifficult to convert from a “snow truck” to a “general purpose truck.” Atruck body that can easily be used for both winter and summerapplications would be very desirable to help limit the number ofvehicles a municipality might need to own and maintain. Furthermore, theability to rapidly convert a vehicle from a “snow truck” configurationto a “general purpose truck” configuration can increase themunicipality's workforce productivity during the winters months becausemany winters include days having weather that allows for, or evenrequires, work to be done without the interference of the “snow truck”equipment.

Another issue with conventional combination bodies is that they can bevery difficult to disassemble. Certain parts of combination bodies, suchas the conveying system, often require maintenance. However, limitedaccess can make it difficult to disassemble certain parts of thecombination body to perform such maintenance. Often those performingmaintenance on the conveying system must intentionally destroy certainparts of the combination body, especially conveyor shafts and thesurrounding area, that otherwise are functioning normally to access theparts of the combination body requiring service. This practice isinefficient and wasteful.

In view of the foregoing, there exists various needs in the art. Onesuch need is for a combination body with increased strength which stillincludes a pivotally mounted tailgate and a conveyor system. A furtherneed exists for a combination body that is readily convertible between asnow truck configuration and a general purpose configuration. Anadditional need is for a combination body having a conveyor shaftassembly that can be easily and reliably disassembled and reassembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure addresses the foregoing and other needs. In oneaspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicle includinga chassis and a body pivotally secured to the chassis at a hinge. Thebody includes a front end, first and second side walls in spacedrelationship to each other, and an open rear end. A tailgate ispivotally connected to the rear end of the body. A rear bodysuperstructure is provided to reinforce the rear end of the body.

In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a chassis and a body mountedthereto. The body includes a front end, an open rear end in longitudinalspaced relationship to the front end, and first and second side walls inlateral spaced relationship to each other and extending longitudinallybetween the front end and the open rear end. The body includes a rearbody superstructure comprising a C-shaped structural beam extendingaround the rear end such that the structural beam is in overlappingrelationship with the first and second side walls.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a body,a tailgate mounted to the body, and a tailgate chute removably mountedto the tailgate. The tailgate chute includes a movable slide plateassembly for selectively opening or closing the chute. The tailgatechute can be easily removable from the tailgate.

In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a chassis and a body mountedthereto. The body has a front end, an open rear end in longitudinalspaced relationship to the front end, and first and second side walls inlateral spaced relationship to each other and extending longitudinallybetween the front end and the open rear end. A tailgate is pivotallymounted to the open rear end of the body. The tailgate includes anopening therein and a mounting bar extending across the opening. Atailgate chute is removably mounted to the tailgate such that it is inat least partial covering relationship with the opening of the tailgate.The tailgate chute includes a mounting hook adapted to retentivelyengage the mounting bar of the tailgate.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes abody with a conveyor assembly disposed therein. The conveyor assemblyincludes means for mounting a conveyor shaft assembly that allow forready removal.

In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a chassis and a body mountedthereto. The chassis includes a pair of longitudinally extending beamsin spaced relationship to each other. Each beam has an aperturetherethrough. The apertures are substantially aligned with each other.The body has a front end, an open rear end in longitudinal spacedrelationship to the front end, and first and second side walls inlateral spaced relationship to each other and extending longitudinallybetween the front end and the open rear end. A conveyor assembly isdisposed within the body and extends generally longitudinally. Theconveyor assembly includes a conveyor shaft assembly removably mountedto the chassis. The conveyor shaft assembly includes a shaft having apair of distal ends. The shaft is adapted to extend between the beams ofthe chassis such that at least one of the distal ends projects laterallyoutwardly from a respective beam. The conveyor shaft assembly includesat least one mounting plate movably arranged with one of the distal endsof the shaft such that the mounting plate is longitudinally movablebetween a mounting position wherein the mounting plate is adapted tosupport the shaft in a tensioned position and one of a range of relaxedpositions wherein the shaft is removable through at least one of theapertures of the beams.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a vehicle inaccordance with principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a body of the vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, detail view taken from the circle A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a rear portion of thebody of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4, of therear portion of the body of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the rear portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the rear portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the rear portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a bottom, interior perspective view of a tailgate and atailgate chute of the vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a top, exterior perspective view of the tailgate and thetailgate chute of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a bottom, exterior perspective view of the tailgate and thetailgate chute of FIG. 9, illustrating the tailgate chute removablymounted to the tailgate.

FIG. 12 is a bottom, exterior perspective view of the tailgate and thetailgate chute of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a bottom, interior perspective view of the tailgate of thevehicle of FIG. 1 and an embodiment of a tailgate opening cover plate.

FIG. 14 is a top, exterior perspective view of the tailgate and thetailgate cover plate of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a bottom, interior perspective view of the tailgate and thetailgate cover plate of FIG. 13, illustrating the cover plate removedfrom the tailgate.

FIG. 16 is a top, exterior perspective view, as in FIG. 15, of thetailgate and the tailgate cover plate of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, bottom front perspective view of a frontportion of the body of the vehicle of FIG. 1 with a front conveyor shaftassembly removed therefrom for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 18 is bottom rear perspective view of the front portion of the bodyof FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the front portion of the body ofFIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the body of the vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the front conveyorshaft assembly mounted to the body of the vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the body and the front conveyorshaft assembly taken along ling in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged detail view taken from the circle A in FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the front conveyor shaftassembly and a fragmentary perspective view of a chassis of the vehicleof FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 is a top perspective view of the front conveyor shaft assemblyand the chassis as in FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, there isprovided a vehicle having a body with an open rear end that isstrengthened by a rear body superstructure. In some embodiments, therear body superstructure comprises a continuous C-shaped structural beamextending around the rear end of the body.

In other embodiments, the vehicle can include a tailgate pivotallymounted to the open rear end of the body. The tailgate can include anopening therein and a mounting bar extending across the opening. Atailgate chute can be removably mounted to the tailgate such that it atleast partially covers the opening in the tailgate. The tailgate chutecan include a pair of mounting hooks adapted to retentively engage themounting bar of the tailgate. The tailgate chute can include a movableslide plate assembly for selectively opening or closing the chute.

In yet other embodiments, the vehicle can include a conveyor assemblydisposed within the body. The conveyor assembly can include at leastone, quick-release conveyor shaft. The shaft can be mounted to thechassis of the vehicle. The chassis can include a pair of beams eachhaving an aperture therethrough adapted to allow the conveyor shaft tofit therethrough. At least one bearing mounting plate is provided tosupport the conveyor shaft in a tensioned position.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of avehicle 40 having a chassis 42 and a combination body 100 mountedthereto and adapted to dump and spread material stored therein. The body100 has a front end 102, an open rear end 104 in longitudinal spacedrelationship to the front end 102, a pair of side walls 106, 108 inlateral spaced relationship to each other and extending longitudinallybetween the front end 102 and the open rear end 104 (see FIG. 2), and asubstantially flat floor.

The body 100 is pivotally mounted to the chassis 42 about a pivot axis110 which extends perpendicularly to the length of the body 100. Morespecifically, the body 100 is connected to the chassis 42 by a rearhinge assembly 112 which allows for pivotal movement about the pivotaxis 110.

The vehicle 40 includes a hoist, which typically includes a hydrauliccylinder, connected between the body 100 and the chassis 42 for pivotingthe body 100 about the pivot axis 110 relative to the chassis 42. Thehoist is disposed at a point forward the pivot axis 110 of the body 100.The hoist is operable to pivot the front end 102 on the rear hingeassembly 112 about the pivot axis 110 over a range of travel between alowered position (as shown in FIG. 1) and a raised position suitable fordumping operations.

There is also provided a conveyor assembly for selectively conveyingmaterials from the body 100. The conveyor assembly includes an endlessconveyor 44 disposed between the side walls 106, 108 in an opening inthe floor and extending longitudinally froth the front end 102 to therear end 104 of the body 100. The conveyor is configured to engagematerial in the body 100 and carry the material toward the rear end 104.The conveyor assembly can be driven by one or more motors mounted in anynumber of suitable locations on the vehicle.

In other embodiments, the conveyor assembly can include a cross-conveyordisposed adjacent the front end 102 of the body 100. The endlessconveyor 44 can also be driven in a forward direction such that materialstored within the body 100 is urged to the front end 102 of the body 100to be expelled either side of the body via the cross conveyor.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, a tailgate 114 is provided at the rearend 104 of the body 100 and extends transversely between the side walls106, 100. The tailgate 114 is releasably and pivotably secured to rearend 104 of the body 100 at an upper pivot axis 116 and a lower pivotaxis 118, both axes 116, 118 being perpendicular to the length of thebody 100.

Referring to FIG. 9, the tailgate 114 includes an opening 109 throughwhich conveyed material can be expelled from the body 100 via theconveyor assembly. To provide for the upper pivot axis 116, the tailgate114 includes a pair of side support aims 120 at its upper end thatcooperate with complementary brackets 122 on the side walls 106, 108 ofthe body (see FIG. 2) for securing the tailgate 114 on the rear end 104of the body 100. The support arms 120 each include a hole 124 forreceiving a pin 126, retained by the bracket 122, therethrough topivotally connect the tailgate 114 to the body 100 about the upper pivotaxis 116.

Referring to FIG. 9, the tailgate 114 also includes a pair of posts 128affixed to its lower end that extend outwardly toward the side walls106, 108 when the tailgate 114 is mounted to the body. The posts 128 canbe pivotally secured to a pair of mounts 130 on the body 100 (see FIG.3) to provide for pivotal movement about the lower pivot axis 118 of thetailgate 114. The posts 128 may be released from the mounts 130 to allowthe tailgate 114 to pivot about its upper pivot axis 116 to facilitatedumping of material from the body 100.

In other embodiments, one or more spreaders can be provided forspreading material the conveyor assembly expels from the body. Forexample, a spreader can be disposed adjacent the rear end 104 of thebody such that it receives material that falls from the end of theendless conveyor 44.

Referring to FIGS. 2-8, in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, an embodiment of a rear body superstructure 132 is shownmounted to the body 100. The rear body superstructure 132 is locatedadjacent the rear end 104 of the body 100 and generally forms a“C”-shaped reinforcement beam about the rear end 104 of the body 100.The superstructure advantageously provide strength and resistance tobending of the rear end 104 of the body 100. The rear bodysuperstructure 132 includes a C-shaped structural beam extending aroundthe rear end 104 such that the structural beam is in overlappingrelationship with the first side wall 106, the floor, and the secondside wall 108.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the superstructure 132 includes a floor supportbeam 50 and a pair of upright bolsters 52, 54. The floor support beam 50has a pair of ends and extends between the first and second side walls106, 108 across the opening in the floor of the body that accommodatesthe endless conveyor 44. The bolsters 52, 54 respectively extendupwardly from the ends of the floor support beam along a respective sidewall 106, 108. The bolsters 52, 54 and the floor support beam 50cooperate together to form a C-shaped beam.

Referring to FIG. 8, the floor support beam 50 includes a centerreinforcing section 134 and a pair of flanking body support sections 60,61. The center reinforcing section 134 and the flanking body supportsections 60, 61 extend in a generally horizontal fashion between thesidewalls of the body to define a floor support beam 50 for the body.

The center reinforcing section 134 includes a main center beam 138. Eachbody support section 60, 61 includes an apron 150 in the form of astructural, tapered channel. The aprons 150 tie the main center beam 138to a respective rear bolster 52, 54.

The center reinforcing section 134 includes a rear hinge plate 136, themain center beam 138, and the conveyor floor 140. The rear binge plate136 is attached across a pair of pivot blocks as part of the rear hingeassembly 112. The rear hinge plate 136 is connected to the main centerbeam 138 providing further support. As shown in FIG. 8, the main centerbeam 138 includes a lip 142 that can be used to connect the main centerbeam 138 to the rear hinge plate 136. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, themain center beam 138 can be attached to the rear hinge plate 136 bywelding or any other suitable technique. The main center beam 138 alsoincludes tabs 144, each projecting toward a respective side walls 106and 108 of the body. The conveyor floor 140 extends the length of thebody underneath the conveyor. The conveyor floor 140 connects to themain center beam 138 to provide further support to the superstructure132.

The main center beam 138 can act to carry the load from side wall toside wall. The rear hinge plate 136 can act as a bottom flange of themain center beam 138. The floor of the conveyor area can act as a topflange of the main center beam 138. Together, the floor of the conveyorarea, the main center beam, and the rear hinge plate can act as anI-beam. The main center beam 138 comprises the web, and the conveyorarea floor and the rear hinge plate comprise the top and bottom flanges,respectively.

The body 100 includes a pair of rear sills 146 that each has a slot 148therein. The slots 148 are sized to allow the tabs 144 of the maincenter beam 138 to extend therethrough so that the main center beam 138can be connected to the aprons.

Each body support section 60, 61 includes one of the aprons 150 and oneof a pair of floor support bars 152. The rear aprons 150 are placed suchthat they can be connected to the tabs 144 of the main center beam 138and the rear sills 146. Each aprons 150 has a pair of flanges 151 toform a generally C-shaped cross section. The floor support bars 152 areconnected to the rear sills 146. Additionally, the conveyor floorsupport 140 is connected to the rear sills 146.

Each of the rear bolsters 52, 54 is generally vertical and forms arespective portion of the sidewalls 106, 108. The rear bolsters 52, 54each include a side panel 154, a front flange 156 and a rear flange 158.The front flanges 156 of the rear bolsters 52, 54 are connected to therear aprons 150. The rear flanges 158 of the rear bolsters 52, 54 areconnected to the body floor support bars 152.

Body floor pieces 160 extend the length of the body 100. The body floorpieces 160 are connected to the bolsters 52, 54, the rear aprons 150,the rear floor support bars 152, and the rear sills 146. The body floorpieces 160 can be connected to corresponding body side pieces 162 thatalso run the length of the body 100. In other embodiments, the bodyfloor pieces 160 and the body side pieces can be formed from onecontinuous piece.

Referring to FIGS. 9-16, an embodiment of a tailgate system 80 is shownthat is suitable for mounting to the body 100. A tailgate can bepivotally mounted to an open rear end of a body. The tailgate caninclude an opening therein and a mounting bar extending across theopening. A tailgate chute can be removably mounted to the tailgate suchthat it is in at least partial covering relationship with the opening ofthe tailgate. The tailgate chute includes a mounting hook adapted toretentively engage the mounting bar of the tailgate.

Referring to FIGS. 9-12 an embodiment of a tailgate chute 164 is shown.The tailgate chute 164 is adapted to allow material being discharged bythe conveyor assembly from the rear end of the body to exit the bodywhile the tailgate is in the closed position. The tailgate chute 164 iseasily removable from the tailgate so that the combination body can bechanged for different operations. The tailgate chute 164 includes amovable portion so that a portion of the tailgate can be opened to allowmaterial to be conveyed out of the back of the body in a meteredfashion.

The chute 164 is removably mounted to selectively cover the opening 109in the tailgate 114. The chute 164 includes a shroud 166. The shroud 166has a face 168 and two side walls 170, 172. One or more stiffeners 175can be provided to increase the strength of the shroud 166.

The face 168 of the shroud 166 includes an opening 174 through whichconveyed material can travel. A slide plate assembly 176 is configuredto selectively cover the opening 174 of the face 168 when in the closedposition and to allow material to pass through the chute 164 when in oneof a range of open positions. The slide plate assembly 176 isconstructed of a main plate 178, a seal piece 180, and a cover plate182. The seal piece 180 is sandwiched between the main plate 178 and thecover plate 182.

The main plate 178, seal piece 180, and cover plate 182 can be connectedby bolts or any other suitable means. The seal piece 180 can beconstructed of rubber or any other suitable material that can provide asufficient engaging seal against the conveyor when the slide plateassembly 176 is in the closed position. The slide plate assembly 176 caninclude one or more stiffeners 184 to increase the strength of the slideplate assembly 176.

An actuator 186 in the form of a screw jack, for example, can beprovided to move the slide plate assembly over a range of travel betweenthe closed position and a range of open positions. The screw jack 186 isattached at a lower end 188 to the slide plate assembly 176 by tabs 190mounted to the screw plate assembly 176. The screw jack 186 can also beattached at an upper end 192 to the shroud 166 such that when the screwjack 186 is activated, it can move the slide gate assembly 176 betweenan open position and a closed position. The chute 164 can include guides194 adapted to guide the slide gate assembly 176 as it is moves betweena closed position and an open position.

The chute 164 is designed such that it can be readily moved between aninstalled position (see FIG. 11) and an uninstalled position (see FIG.9). The chute 164 includes a pair of mounting hooks 196, 198 on theshroud sidewalls 170, 172. The mounting hooks 196, 198 are adapted toretentively engage a mounting bar 200 attached to the tailgate 114 whenthe chute 164 is in the installed position. The mounting bar 200 isattached by welding or any other appropriate means to the tailgate 114and can provide additional strength to the tailgate 114. The chute alsoincludes one or more mounting apertures 202 located and configured tomatingly align with corresponding mounting apertures 204 in the tailgate114. When the chute 164 is in the installed position, pins or otherconnectors can be inserted through the aligned chute apertures 202 andthe tailgate apertures 204 to retain the chute 164 in the installedposition.

The chute 164 includes a lift hook 206 to facilitate the installationand the removal of the chute using a lifting device, such as a winch,for example. The lift hook 206 can be attached to the shroud 166 by anyappropriate means. In this embodiment the lift hook 206 is pivotallyconnected to the shroud.

Once the tailgate chute 164 is removed, it can be replaced by anothertailgate component. For example, if the conveyor is not in use, thetailgate chute 164 can be replaced by a cover to occlude the opening inthe tailgate.

Referring to FIGS. 13-16, an embodiment of a tailgate opening cover 208is shown. The tailgate opening cover 208 includes a pair of mountinghooks 210 adapted to retentively engage the mounting bar 200 such thatit can be removably mounted to the tailgate 114. The tailgate openingcover 208 can include mounting apertures 212 adapted to matingly alignwith the mounting apertures 204 of the tailgate 114 to secure thetailgate cover 208 in an installed position via pins or other suitableconnectors.

Referring to FIGS. 17-25, an embodiment of a quick release conveyorshaft assembly 300 is shown. The quick release conveyor shaft assembly300 is disposed at the front of the conveyor assembly. The conveyorshaft assembly 300 allows for the ready installation of the conveyorshaft assembly 300 to the chassis of the vehicle and the ready, completeremoval of conveyor shaft assembly 300 for service, for example.

The conveyor shaft assembly 300 includes a shaft having a pair of distalends. The shaft is adapted to extend between the beams of the chassissuch that at least one of the distal ends projects laterally outwardlyfrom a respective beam. At least one mounting plate is movably arrangedwith a projecting distal end of the shaft such that the mounting plateis longitudinally movable between a mounting position wherein themounting plate is adapted to support the shaft in a tensioned positionand one of a range of relaxed positions wherein the shaft is removablethrough at least one of the apertures of the beams.

In other embodiments, the quick release conveyor assembly can be used atthe rear end of the conveyor assembly. Further, while the illustratedconveyor shaft assembly 300 is a driven assembly, i.e., an assemblywithout a motor attached, the conveyor shaft assembly can equally applyto a drive shaft assembly 308, i.e., with a motor attached.

Referring to FIG. 24, the conveyor shaft assembly 300 includes aconveyor shaft or rod 308, a plurality of sprockets 310 supported on theshaft 308 and rotatively coupled thereto, a pair of bearings 312, whichare also respectively connected to the ends of the conveyor rod 308, anda pair of bearing mounting plates 314 adapted to secure the conveyor rod308 in a tensioned position to the body 100. The bearings 312 aremounted to the rod 308 such that the shaft 308 is rotatable about itslongitudinal axis. Front outer sills 304 of the body each include anaperture 306 adapted to allow the rod 308, the sprockets 310, and thebearings 312 to pass through the apertures 306.

The bearing mounting plates 314 each include a mounting slot 315, anupper flange 316, a lower flange 318, and a tensioning flange 319. Theupper and lower flanges 316, 318 can be adapted to interact with guides320 on the sills 304 to allow the bearing mounting plates 318 toslidingly engage the conveyor rod 308, which is supported in themounting slot 315. The mounting plates 314 can move over a range oftravel forward toward the front end 102 of the body to support the shaftin a tensioned position or rearward toward the rear end 104 of the body100 to place the shaft in a range of relaxed positions. These directionscan be reversed for a quick-release shaft assembly at the rear end ofthe conveyor. This sliding motion allows for easy installation andremoval of the conveyor shaft 308 and accompanying parts.

Tensioning tabs 321, attached to the sills 304, each include an aperture322 through which extends a threaded rod 324. The threaded rod 324 canbe threadingly advanced toward the tensioning flange 319 of the mountingplates 314 until the rod engages the tensioning flange 319. Continuedadvancement of the threaded rod slides the mounting plate into mountedengagement with the conveyor rod 308 such that the conveyor rod 308 isin a tensioned position. A plurality of nuts 326 can be provided toretain the threaded rod 324 in a desired position.

Each mounting plate 314 includes a plurality of mounting holes adaptedto matingly align with mounting holes of the corresponding bearing 312.Suitable threaded fasteners and nuts can be used to mount the bearings312 to the respective mounting plates 314.

With the bearings 312, the conveyor rod 308, and the sprockets 310connected together, chains can be installed which can be entrainedaround the sprockets 310 and linked to corresponding sprockets at therear end 104 of the conveyor system. The conveyor rod 308 can bedisposed in the mounting slots 315 of the mounting plates 314. Thethreaded rods 324 may be advanced to apply force to the tensioningflange 319 of the bearing mounting plate 314. This force causes thebearing mounting plate to move towards the front end 102 of the body100. The inter-engagement of the conveyor rod 308 and the slots 315 ofthe bearing plates 314 cause the conveyor rod 308 to move, in turn,toward the front of the body, thereby tightening the chains entrainedaround the sprockets and moving the front conveyor assembly 300 to atensioned position.

To remove, the threaded rods 124 can be threadingly retracted toward therear end of the body, thereby slackening the tension of the chainsentrained around the sprockets 310. The threaded rods 324 can beretracted a sufficient distance to allow an operator to remove thechains from the sprockets 310 and to allow the mounting plate 314 to nolonger be in overlying relationship with the aperture 306 in the sill304. The bearings 312, the conveyor rod 308, and the sprockets 310 canbe removed, as a unit, from its installed position through the aperture306.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value failing within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A vehicle comprising: a chassis and a body mounted to the chassis,the body having a front end, an open rear end in longitudinal spacedrelationship to the front end, and first and second side walls inlateral spaced relationship to each other and extending longitudinallybetween the front end and the open rear end, the body including a rearbody superstructure comprising a C-shaped structural beam extendingaround the rear end such that the structural beam is in overlappingrelationship with the first and second side walls.
 2. The vehicle ofclaim 1, wherein the body is pivotally mounted to the chassis by a rearhinge assembly.
 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body includes asubstantially flat floor, and the C-shaped structural beam is inoverlapping relationship with the first side wall, the floor, and thesecond side wall.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the floor of thebody includes an opening and the vehicle further comprising: a conveyorassembly adapted to selectively convey material from the body, theconveyor assembly including an endless conveyor disposed between theside walls in the opening in the floor and extending longitudinally fromthe front end to the rear end of the body.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4,wherein the superstructure includes a floor support beam and a pair ofupright bolsters, the floor support beam having a pair of ends andextending between the first and second sidewalls across the opening inthe floor of the body that accommodates the endless conveyor, and thebolsters respectively extending upwardly from the ends of the floorsupport beam along a respective sidewall.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5,wherein the floor support beam includes a center reinforcing section anda pair of flanking body support sections.
 7. The vehicle of claim 6,wherein the center reinforcing section includes a main center beam. 8.The vehicle of claim 7, wherein each body support section includes anapron securing the main center beam to a respective bolster.
 9. Thevehicle of claim 8, wherein each body support section includes a floorsupport bar, and each holster includes a front flange and a rear flange,the front flanges of the bolsters being respectively connected to theaprons, and the rear flanges of the bolsters being respectivelyconnected to the body floor support bars. 10-28. (canceled)